News and Notes - November

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction: November 5, 2018 through November 9, 2018 is Gifted Education Week - a time to celebrate the work of schools. Families, organizations, and community members in support of students with gifts and talents.West Allis-West Milwaukee School District Board of Education:
Jeff Sikich received a Level Three Award from the Wisconsin Association of School Boards and a 30 Year Recognition Award at the Wisconsin Health and Physical Educator convention.Central High School:

Students, Mya Acker and Sabrina Lutz are taking their state exam to earn their Certified Nursing Assistant credential. They will be the first students from West Allis Central to enroll in Youth Apprenticeships at Aurora West Allis Medical Center.

World Language teacher, Nancy Azevedo, helped students organize a Day of the Dead exhibit and potluck dinner to celebrate Hispanic culture. Mrs. Azevedo also worked with Physical Education Teacher, Joette Muffler, to bring in the Mezclando Milwaukee Dance Company to teach salsa dancing to students.

Social Studies teacher, Heather Bain, worked with staff and students to hold a Laps 4 Life event. They raised $1,000 for the ABCD (After Breast Cancer Diagnosis) support group.

After 23 years of service, secretary, Linda Brinker, retired on November 9, 2018. We wish her a happy and healthy retirement.

Shared Journeys:

Over 350 people attended our Community Open House and ribbon cutting with Mayor Devine.

Seniors, Danielych Heben, was just accepted to Alverno with a $56,000 scholarship.

Lane Intermediate School:

Teachers, Drew Wallsworth, Samantha Bachman, and Michael Skurek conducted a deeper learning project with their 6th grade students in which they were transportation engineers in the year 2048 and self-driving buses were going to be used in the community. Students used a geo-mapping tool to determine where bus stops would be placed. Students then calculated the distance and time to each stop. Using this information, they put a proposal together for Mayor Devine. Mayor Devine visited the class, gave feedback to the students about their plan and answered questions about how infrastructure works.

Sodexo donated aprons to students that are participating in the after school cooking club run by teacher, Cortney Merten and Sodexo employee, Vickie Lacher.

Teacher, Ashley Duley signed her class up for the Healthy Schools Challenge sponsored by Children's Hospital which enabled her to distribute 70 step trackers to her students and staff. The goal is for everyone to get at least 10,000 steps in a day.

General Mitchell Elementary School:4th grade student, Endri Luta, implemented a Better World Project by procuring five apple trees, digging holes, and planting them on school grounds. Endri's sister has asthma and will be attending General Mitchell next year. Endri knows trees help make clean air and are good for the environment. He has been watering the trees every few days and will soon wrap the trees to protect them over winter.

Irving Elementary School: Physical Therapists, Tina Pratte and Jill Stamn created an outdoor movement path in the Irving courtyard. It’s a perfect tool for students needing a sensory or movement break and can benefit all students.

Longfellow Elementary School:Teachers, Cathy Boyd, Dana Farina, Beckie Fekete, Erica Rasmussen, Jennifer Mendoza, Vicki Cota, and Eva Blythe raised funds (Scholastic Sponsorship and Meemic Grants) so their students would receive one free book per month. The extra money is being used to buy books for other classrooms.

Pershing Elementary School: Staff members, Deb Groth, Adrienne Spangenberg, Liz Arkin, Tyson Dragolovich, and Michele Pipal worked with the Service Learning Club and the West Allis Health Department to collect plastic bags. (The bags will be used to make "Mercy Mats" which provide warmth and a place to sleep for people who are homeless.) The goal was to collect 1,400 plastic bags -- instead, students collected over 16,000 plastic bags which will be used to make approximately 23 "Mercy Mats."

Wilson Elementary School:The Wilson Space Gamers Lego Robotics Team (under the direction of coaches, Brendan Kelly and Lisa Erickson) took first place at the Riverside High School Regional Lego Robotics tournament and has advanced on to the Sectional tournament in Mukwonago on December 8, 2018. The team took home the “Champions Award” (Top Award) and also scored the most points in the robot game.

Communication and Community Relations: Fortis Management Group, a consulting firm in Milwaukee, is going out of business and generously donated thousands of dollars worth of office furniture to schools in our District.

Recreation and Community Relations: Nicole Lenich, graphic designer and owner of Dozella Graphics, LLC, has redesigned the Recreation Department Activity Guide for Winter/Spring. She is a former student (Mitchell, FLW, Hale) and worked for the recreation department while in high school.

West Allis Central High School Athletics:

The West Allis Wave 200-freestyle relay team broke history with a time of 1:53 at the Woodland Conference championship meet. Under coach, Scott Egly, team members Morgan Toupal, Suzanna Skroback, Casey Burtch and Julia Kusik clocked the best time in the past 10 years for the West Allis Wave swim team.

Junior, Ashllyn Hill-Mariani took second in the dive portion of the Woodland Conference event, with a score of 400.65 points. Her coach is Sandy Sikich.

West Allis Nathan Hale High School Athletics:

Senior, Alexis Hess is signing a Letter of Intent to attend Concordia St. Paul to play softball. She is receiving $5,000 the first year with growth stipend in letter.

Senior, Abi Stevens is signing a Letter of Intent to attend the University of Sioux Falls and participate in Basketball and Track & Field. She is receiving $10,000.00 the first year with growth in letter.

Boys cross country qualified for the State Meet. The following were members of the team: Ethan Fisher, Bradley Glisczinski, Matthew Kees, Liam Kelly, Brenna Kompas, Cole Konczal, Cole Orlowski,Joshua Truchon. The head coach for cross country is Dan Machmueller.

The following students were on the Greater Metro Conference All Conference Teams for the Fall: